wow.... it sound like i missed lots of stuff when i go taiwan previously.... i think i need start slowly plan for my next trip ald....

IMHO round island tour with travel agency will be tiring and rushing because almost everyday you have to travel and change hotels, and the places to visit/stay are already fixed. although you don't have to worry about which hotel to stay or which bus to take but in the end you'll pay alot more extra because the hotels might be expensive when you can choose a cheaper accommodation. and you might only allowed to visit a place for a short time only. Reliance was charging about 3k+ for round island trip during the last matta fair i enquired.

Yes indeed is truth.... Especially when u wanna shop, they just give u limited time.... They allow u 2hours include u find food n shopping..... I went for the tour be4 and it was such a tiring trip and i nvr enjoyed.. yes, i need not worries bout transport and i can sleep whole in bus but everything n everywhere u visit is a place they bring u..... u had no choice even u not interested.....

True, even i enquiry 1 person in travel agent which we known.. he frankly speak tat we can save at least RM1k per person if we DIY ourselves.. of coz the accommodation is those budget one..

yup. and if u are planning to travel round island taiwan within a week it's quite impossible because travelling takes up most of your time so in the end you won't get to enjoy the beauty of taiwan.

Forgotten to ask,did you go to Cing Jing via taxi...how much and journey time?Cox me actually coming from Cing Jing via HeHuangshan aka Hualien.
Did some research that if via bus Cing Jing to Taichung need to take 2 buses via Sun Moon lake.Kinda wasting time travelling.

Thanks.

Yes, we took TAXI else the time is wasted. The transportation in Taichong county to those places are not so convenience compare those tourism places in Taipei County. Lavendar Cottage is really isolated area. We still can recall there is a purple wooden board written "DO NOT GIVE UP!" in Mandarin prior to arrival to the Lavendar Cottage. :-)

BTW to other replies: If you just wants to round the Taiwan island, 2-3 days is sufficient, but if you wanted to include those place of interest in your round island trip then I think is insufficient. We have visited Taiwan for total of 23 days (1st time = 10 days, 2nd time = 13 days) also cannot complete to visit those place of interest. However we managed to complete the round island trip with the local tour ground arrangement but is kinda of rush in 1st trip. In the 2nd trip, we only complete partially in West Coast plus Peng Hu Island only. Even Taiwan is look like small potato in term of geography, but do not under estimate the distance, without own transport, it's kinda of inconvenience to access to some of places.

if i stayed at taipei for 7 days , what places i should not miss ?
my friend intro me to hello kitty restaurant. thanks.

May i know which month is the best to go taiwan? I will be available from end of july to early september or next year january? which is better month to go.. thx~~ planning 7d6N trip~ thx

If me, i'd choose january although it's winter time in Taiwan at that time. But better than really hot days in July or typhoon time in Sept.

---

Added on May 19, 2011, 10:02 ammost signature cafe/restaurant is kinda expensive but if u have the money, why not. you can drop by Mr J restaurant also if you want (Jay Chou's)

This post has been edited by jlgoh9: May 19 2011, 10:02 AM

thx =) den i have to plan.. planning to go 1st jan- 8th jan.. how do u think?

well, it's up to u... Winter is from Dec to Feb..so u'll be in the middle of winter while you're there. but no worries, it's not going to be snowing and the temperature won't drop below 0 degree..but still it will be cold for you especially if u're scared of cold. taiwan is surrounded by mountains, so their winds are quite strong. Make sure you have enough warm clothes, gloves and face masks la....

i went in march also so darn cold esp when the wind blows and rain.

It will snow but on higher than 3000m haha..Well during this time, lotsa Taiwanese will make their annual pilmirage to Hehuan shan to see the snow

well, i did went to hehuan in march... still got a little tad of dirty snow by the roadside..hahaha

but it's nice view there...really nice... with 2.6 degree and strong wind..it's even more syok...hhahaha

no problem if i go there mainly for shopping purpose rite? hehe

if u mainly go there for shopping then it might not so suitable.. during winter, most of the clothes they r selling is for winter only..

Anybody went to Jiaoshi Hot Spring in Yilan before?Dont know worth going there rather than Wulai Hot Spring...seems Wulai street food like not so nice so my friends want me to change it to other places.

where is mr j restaurant??? i did like to drop by....

---

Added on May 22, 2011, 3:11 amif u go for shopping then u need bear with hot weather.... or may cos it start selling summer clothing....

This post has been edited by MandyG: May 22 2011, 03:11 AM

Uhm I have a question regarding the $$$. Did anyone knows of which branch of which bank in Taipei that you can go to the counter to get cash advance?

I can't use credit cards at ATMs because I did not know that I have to activate it in Malaysia ATM first. T___T

Hey guys, if I wana go Taiwan jus for shopping n eating purpose, is April alright? Wat kind of clothes on sales that time ? Tq